Original Article
Molecular Therapy (2003) 8, 992–998; doi: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2003.09.008
Needle-Free Topical Electroporation Improves Gene Expression from Plasmids Administered in Porcine Skin
Shawn Babiuk1, Maria E. Baca-Estrada1, Marianna Foldvari2, Lawrence Baizer3, Richard Stout3, Michael Storms4, Dietmar Rabussay4, Georg Widera4 and Lorne Babiuk1
- 1Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5E3, Canada
- 2College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5E3, Canada
- 3BioJect Inc., Portland, Oregon 97224, USA
- 4Genetronics Inc., San Diego, California 92121, USA
Correspondence: Shawn Babiuk, Fax: (306) 966-7468. E-mail: babiuks@sask.usask.ca
Received 23 July 2003; Accepted 15 September 2003.
Abstract
Electroporation has been shown to increase the potency of DNA vaccines that have demonstrated significant potential in mice. However, there is a need to develop noninvasive or minimally invasive vaccination methods. In pigs, in vivo gene expression was assessed to compare intradermal needle injection to a needle-free dermal BioJect as a means of delivery of plasmids. Each administration method was further tested with and without surface electroporation. Experiments with plasmid DNA encoding luciferase demonstrated that needle-free administration results in higher gene expression levels than needle injection. Electroporation enhanced gene expression for both intradermal delivery methods. Needle-free plasmid injection in combination with electroporation led to a more rapid induction of immune responses compared to other methods of plasmid administration. It was concluded that needle-free topical electroporation significantly enhances gene expression, possibly by improving cellular uptake of plasmid DNA.
